Detection of Plasmodium falciparum DNA in saliva samples stored at room temperature: potential for a non-invasive saliva-based diagnostic test for malaria

Table 6 Relationship between parasitaemia and nPCR-saliva after one year

Parasitaemia at enrolment (n)	Samples that remained positive after 1 year n (%)	Samples initially positive but negative after 1 year n (%)
Sub microscopic (14)	7 (50)	7 (50)
< 1000 (5)	5 (100)	0
1000–10,000 (11)	9 (82)	2 (18)
> 10,000–< 50,000 (11)	11 (100)	0
50,000–< 100,000 (7)	7 (100)	0
> 100,000 (6)	5 (83)	1 (17)

Originally, 53 samples were nPCR-saliva-positive. A year later, the samples were re-screened and n = 43 remained positive, but 10 were negative

ISSN: 1475-2875